Padre Notebook : Hoyt Admits Problems, Will Report This Week

LaMarr Hoyt, now able to admit that he had become an alcoholic, will rejoin the San Diego Padres this weekend, according to attorney Ron Shapiro.

Shapiro said Sunday night Hoyt will be back with the team either by Friday or “certainly by the weekend.”

Shapiro added: “It was inspiring to talk to him (Hoyt) this morning. He has come to a point where he understands that he not only had a history of alcohol in his family, but that he himself had the problem. And, as a result of it, he did use some--not hard stuff--but some marijuana at some point in time.

“But it’s very hard for an alcoholic to realize he’s an alcoholic. And LaMarr has come to that realization.”

Earlier Sunday, Padre manager Steve Boros said he was expecting Hoyt, 31, to return Thursday and be in camp Friday.

“If all goes well, LaMarr will be ready the third or fourth week of April,” Boros said. “We’ll have a young pitcher on our staff until then. When LaMarr is ready, that young pitcher will go to Las Vegas.”

“It’s been hard on him,” Shapiro said. “It (the rehabilitation center in Minnesota) is not a great atmosphere to stay in shape. But he’s lost some weight, so he doesn’t have to worry about losing any more. He just has to get out there and get himself in pitching shape, get the arm going. He’s pretty good at doing that, though.”

But baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth hasn’t been heard from. Ueberroth had harsh sentences for players involved in the Pittsburgh drug trials, and it’s possible he could suspend Hoyt, though Shapiro didn’t think that would happen.

“I think he’ll definitely visit with us at some point,” Shapiro said of Ueberroth. “But I don’t think LaMarr falls into his category (of suspensions). No. 1, LaMarr didn’t facilitate distribution of things. No. 2, he never engaged in any cocaine use. So, he’s really much closer to the alcohol side than the drug side.”

Ueberroth was unavailable for comment.

In front of pitcher Roy Lee Jackson’s empty locker Sunday, three packed suitcases were ready for delivery to an unknown destination.

For the second time in two seasons, Jackson had been released by a major league baseball team. This time, the Padres were the bad news bearers.

Jackson, 31, was among Toronto’s final cuts in 1984. He waited at home for three weeks before Baltimore called and sent him to its Rochester farm club. Then, Jackson was traded to the Padres in June along with a minor league pitcher for Alan Wiggins.

How does Jackson feel about his latest release?

“I’m not as upset as people think I am,” he said. “Waiting for somebody to call me doesn’t bother me. Knowing that the Lord is on my side, this is no big deal. I’m confident I’ll be pitching with somebody this year. If I was unhealthy or hadn’t pitched well in past years, I might not feel that way.”

Jackson, a right-handed reliever, had allowed four runs on 13 hits in 9 innings this spring. However, since Tim Stoddard apparently has emerged as the Padres’ 10th pitcher, there simply was no room for Jackson.

The starting pitchers will be Eric Show, Dave Dravecky, Andy Hawkins, Mark Thurmond and Hoyt (when he’s ready). The relievers figure to be Goose Gossage, Craig Lefferts, Lance McCullers, Gene Walter and Stoddard.

The Padres sent Jackson to Las Vegas when they acquired him in 1985. After Jackson pitched three games at Las Vegas, he was recalled by the Padres. In 22 games with the Padres, Jackson had a 2-3 record, 2.70 ERA and two saves.

“I never thought I had to show people that the Padres didn’t make a bum trade,” Jackson said.

Sandy Alomar Jr., an 18-year-old catcher, was sent back to the Padres minor league camp before Sunday’s 9-8 loss to Milwaukee in 12 innings. The Padres have 41 players in camp and are expected to cut 8 to 10 players today.

John Kruk and Jerry Davis, contesting for the team’s last open spot, will survive today’s cut. Kruk had a pinch-hit single Sunday, raising his average to .500. Davis struck out twice in extra innings with runners in scoring position, lowering his average to .190.

Gossage was the losing pitcher Sunday, allowing two runs in the 12th. One scored on a bases-loaded walk, the other on a fielder’s choice.

Terry Kennedy had three of San Diego’s 18 hits. Garry Templeton had two hits and three RBIs.